Kevin Humphreys (Labour) | Oireachtas source

I wish to ask one simple question. What has Dublin done to this Fine Gael Government? In the past year, there has been a total lack of understanding of the issues affecting Dublin. Dublin makes a huge contribution - socially, economically and culturally - to the country but fails to get a fair deal in the context of investment. Dublin needs a loud and clear voice. I have supported a directly-elected mayor for many years. Fianna Fáil has tabled a Private Members' Bill on this in the Dáil, as has the Green Party. I have raised the issue in the House on many occasions. On the most recent of these occasions, the Minister gave a commitment to come back on a directly-elected mayor in June. It is now July but we have had no word. What we had was the Minister of State at the Department of Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government, Deputy Phelan, having a laugh by suggesting three mayors for Dublin. It is purely a laugh. No one has considered that option.

The Taoiseach is on record as saying that Dublin needs a directly-elected mayor and Fianna Fáil and the Green Party support that stance. I am not sure of the position of Sinn Féin. It is totally logical that a city of this size should have a directly-elected mayor and that its citizens should have a voice. If the Government is going to have a laugh at the expense of the city, it will cost the country economically. We need that critical investment in the infrastructure of the city but it is not happening. I want to see the Minister of State, Deputy Phelan, or the Minister, Deputy Eoghan Murphy, come to the House to answer on their commitments to the capital city because those commitments are not being honoured. The city is being ignored and I, for one, will not stand for it any more.